This article was co-authored by Sarah Gehrke, RN. Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse in Texas. She received her M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.

There are 25 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Mouth ulcers are aggravating at best and may be extremely painful. Also called canker sores or aphthous ulcers, mouth ulcers can be triggered by various factors, including stress, illness, or simply biting your cheek. However, there are a few tried-and-true methods that can get rid of those pesky ulcers in no time.

Steps

Method1

Trying Home Remedies

1

Rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution. Mix a teaspoon or two of salt with a warm glass of water and let it dissolve. Swish the solution in your mouth from side to side, then spit it into the sink. Don’t swallow the salt solution.[1]

Repeat this a few times a day, generally after meals and before you go to bed.

2

Try a baking soda mouth rinse. Baking soda is an alternative to a saline rinse. Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in half a cup of warm water. Perform the rinse the same as the salt water rinse.[2]

3

Rinse with mild mouthwash. Rinse out your mouth to clear out any aggravating bacteria and potentially ease the pain of the sore. Just about any mouthwash will work for this purpose. Swish it morning and night, and maybe after lunch as well.[3]

Never swallow mouthwash.

In some cases, antiseptics (including mouthwash) can cause or make ulcers worse. If the mouthwash is irritating or painful, stop using it until your mouth ulcer heals. You can also try an alcohol-free mouthwash.[4]

4

Use milk of magnesia. Get milk of magnesia from your grocery store or pharmacy. Gently dab a little bit onto your canker sore several times every day. This can have a soothing effect and promote healing.[5]

5

Dab the sore with hydrogen peroxide. Make a mixture that is half water and half 3% hydrogen peroxide – you only need a small amount. Dip a cotton swab in the solution, and dab it over the sore.[6] Do this once to clean the area, then dip a fresh swab and hold it to the sore for a few seconds. Try to do this morning and night.

Don't swallow the solution – use just enough to wet the cotton swab.

6

Apply some honey to the ulcer. Dab a small amount of pure honey onto the ulcer. This may help ease pain and reduce inflammation.[7]

Dry the area with a clean cotton swab first, then use a fresh swab to apply the honey.

Look for Manuka honey, as it has the most potent antibacterial qualities. If you can’t find it, though, any kind of honey will help fight bacteria.[8]

7

Make an herbal mouthwash.Infuse some water with equal amounts of the herbs sage and chamomile. Once the water cools to a comfortable temperature, use the mixture as a mouthwash. Some people find this to improve the pain of mouth ulcers, though there isn't much research on the subject.[9]

Use this mouthwash 4-6 times a day.

8

Drink beneficial juices. Some people find that carrot, celery, and cantaloupe juice helps improve mouth ulcers. This hasn't been studied, however.[10] Juice these individually or blend them into a smoothie to enjoy on a daily basis.

Method2

Improving Comfort and Healing

1

Suck on ice chips. Ice can reduce swelling and numb the pain of a canker sore. If you can, use your tongue to hold a chip directly against the sore until it dissolves.[11]

Keep ice chips in a coffee thermos or a styrofoam cup to prevent rapid melting, and use them throughout the day.

If ice chips are too cold for you, try to at least drink cool water throughout the day. Let it sit in your mouth and gently swish it against your sore before swallowing it.

2

Stay away from acidic and spicy foods. Spicy, acidic, and abrasive foods can irritate the sore. This will cause pain and may delay healing. Eat bland and soft foods to let your ulcer heal.[12]

Avoid carbonated drinks, citrus fruits, hard foods like toasted bread, and anything with a lot of salt or spice.

3

Be gentle when you brush your teeth. A toothbrush slipping and scraping your mouth can actually cause an ulcer, and can definitely make a pre-existing one hurt more. Avoid aggravating your sore by using a toothbrush with soft bristles, and try to avoid touching the sore as well.[13]

Get toothpaste for sensitive teeth like Biotene or Sensodyne ProNamel to use until your sore heals.

4

Take over-the-counter pain relievers. If you can't get rid of your mouth ulcer as soon as you'd like, you can at least try to improve your comfort. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen, or use an OTC numbing gel. These are available at your local pharmacy.[14]

If you have any medical conditions or take other medications, talk to the pharmacist or your doctor before choosing a medication.

Don’t take aspirin if you’re under 16. Never give aspirin to a child.

5

Suck on zinc lozenges. You can obtain zinc lozenges from your local drug store or pharmacy. Though these haven't been proven to be helpful, some people find that they ease discomfort and speed up healing.[15] Use them as directed on the package.

6

Try vitamin supplements. Vitamins B and C may help to heal mouth ulcers, though this needs to be studied further.[16] Get vitamin supplements from your drugstore or pharmacy after speaking with your doctor or pharmacist. Only take the recommended amount.

7

Take supplemental lysine. Lysine, an amino acid, could potentially help with your mouth ulcers. This needs more research, however. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there's any reason you shouldn't take lysine.[17]

8

Take echinacea. Echinacea is an herb that can be found in supplement form at your local pharmacy or drugstore. Because it acts on the immune system, it may help promote healing of canker sores. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether it's safe for you to use echinacea.[18]

Method3

Seeking Professional Treatment

1

See your doctor if the sores are large or extremely painful. Most small canker sores heal on their own in a week or two. You may need medical help if you have multiple ulcers, very large ulcers, your pain is severe, your sores do not heal after three weeks or they spread, or you develop a fever.[19] See your doctor or your dentist – there are many medications and treatments that can help.[20]

Your doctor or dentist can help you make sure your problem is actually a mouth ulcer, and not a tooth abscess or a rare form of oral cancer.

2

Ask for topical pain medication. You can get some pain medications over-the-counter, but others require a prescription. It’s best to ask your healthcare provider which medication is best for you to use. There are numerous pastes, creams, liquids, and gels on the market that can ease the pain and speed healing of mouth ulcers. Use a product containing one of the following ingredients:[21]

Fluocinonide (Lidex, Vanos)

Benzocaine (Anbesol, Kank-A, Zilactin-B, Orabase)

Hydrogen peroxide (Orajel Antiseptic Mouth Sore Rinse, Peroxyl)

3

Request a medicated mouth rinse. If you have multiple ulcers, a mouth rinse may be easier than applying gel to each individual sore. Ask your doctor or dentist about getting a mouth rinse containing dexamethasone or lidocaine. These can both ease pain, and dexamethasone can also reduce inflammation.[22]

4

Take prescribed medication if your sores won’t heal. You may need oral medication if your ulcers don’t heal with other treatments. Talk to your doctor about your options, and let them know about your health history and any medications you take. Some medicines for other ailments can be used to treat stubborn mouth ulcers, such as sucralfate (Carafate) and colchicine.[23]

Your doctor may prescribe oral corticosteroids if you have severe ulcers that won’t heal. These can have many side effects and are usually a last resort. Alert your doctor if you're pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have an autoimmune disease; you might be better suited to another treatment.

5

Get your ulcers medically cauterized. Your doctor may cauterize your ulcers with a chemical or instrument. This destroys the damaged tissue, and may relieve pain and speed healing. Ask your doctor or dentist if this option is right for you.[24]

6

Take a supplement to prevent recurrence. If you’re low in any nutrients, your mouth ulcers may return. Talk to your doctor about whether you should take a supplement for folate, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, zinc, or any vitamins. This may help prevent recurring sores.

Your doctor can check if you’re deficient in any nutrients by taking a blood sample.

Small mouth sores will usually go away on their own in about 1-2 weeks. Some might take just a few days. If the sore gets worse or lasts longer than a few weeks, you should have it looked at by a healthcare professional.

It's possible. Not brushing your teeth after eating sweets could cause an ulcer, or repeatedly eating or sucking on a hard piece of candy or a mint. People that suffer from candida or diabetes should especially avoid eating too many sweets, as it can cause oral thrush.

Mouth ulcers are commonly caused by an accidental bite from your teeth. For example, if you accidentally bite your lips, the teeth puncture the skin and create a small wound. Afterwards, the body starts forming ulcers on the wound to defend itself from bacteria.

While lemon is acidic, it's mild when used as suggested, and it is useful for its sour reaction to the pain, which can help to dull it. The acidity of the drinks and foods is much higher and can make the ulcer feel worse when ingested in typical quantities.

You can take a pain pill from the drugstore, preferably Advil and not aspirin if you're 18 years old or younger. That helps you deal with the pain. Or try: Get one or two teaspoons of salt, mix it in with warm water and then swish the water side to side. Another way is cutting a lemon in half and then apply it on the ulcer. It may sting a little but it will be numb, which is good finish up by adding some honey.

wikiHow Video: How to Remove a Mouth Ulcer

The fastest way to get rid of a mouth ulcer is to apply a mix of equal parts water and 3% hydrogen peroxide twice a day. Dab the solution onto the sore with a cotton swab and hold it there for a minute. To clean out bacteria, dissolve 1-2 spoonfuls of salt in a glass of warm water and swish it around in your mouth after meals and before bed. Place an ice chip on the sore to relieve pain fast, and avoid spicy and citrus foods. Read on for more at home remedies and professional solutions in case these don’t do the trick.

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Tips

If your canker sores are related to another illness, you will need to treat the underlying cause to prevent ulcers from recurring.[25]

Canker sores are NOT the same thing as cold sores. Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus – canker sores are not.

You can also use lemon juice & honey paste. Take some honey & lemon juice & mix it. Apply to affected area with cotton swabs or a clean finger. You can also apply lemon juice without honey. It's best & works faster.

"My mom had a lip blister some days ago. I told my mom to follow these rules. Now she's fine. Thanks a lot, wikiHow! You always solve my problems. I always find my solution from you, you're the best!"..." more

MM

Moumita Mukherjee

Dec 23, 2016

"I had a mouth ulcer for last 3 days. But now the pain is reducing using these methods. Very helpful. Thanks, wikiHow, you always solve my problems."..." more

A

Anonymous

Dec 8, 2017

"Instructions are easy to follow the cause and treatment, easy to understand multiple choices to chose from enjoyed the information that was shared."..." more

A

Anonymous

Sep 9, 2016

"The saline solution, although sore at first, numbed the pain and eventually the ulcer went away. Used at least once a day, usually at night."..." more

AH

Abbie Hick

Oct 2, 2016

"The salt and warm water worked super fast. I did it on a morning, and before bed the pain stopped and it was gone. I recommend this."..." more

SD

Sandra Dwell

Jun 26, 2017

"This helped me a lot. I think I might have a rare oral cancer, so I should probably go and check that out. Thanks for the help."..." more

Rated this article:

A

Anonymous

Feb 7, 2017

"The hydrogen peroxide with water, and the salt mixed with warm water helped numb the pain and take the ulcer away faster."..." more

Kunal Kumar

Jun 21, 2017

"I love wikiHow as it is full of facts from all around the world. It helps me get healthy, be socialable, comfortable etc."..." more

Rated this article:

A

Anonymous

Aug 4, 2016

"Thanks for the tips. I find mouth ulcers very irritating, so this page really helped me to find a way to remove them."..." more

A

Anonymous

Feb 20, 2017

"Thanks for tips; saltwater solution and the lemon I've tried so far. Good to know not to overuse hydrogen peroxide!"

A

Anonymous

Jan 9, 2018

"For more than 6 months, I've been suffering from the occasional ulcer attacks in the mouth, mainly on the tongue."

GC

Grace Clark

Mar 8, 2016

"This helped my daughter when she had ulcers in her mouth due to braces. They went away within 3 days."

AV

Annie Vaug

Sep 27, 2016

"All the helpful tips and ideas on how to get rid of these darn mouth sores helped. Thank you."

V

Viv

Aug 16, 2017

"I used honey treatment and took B12 capsules, it's cured on the 3rd day. Thank you so much."

Rated this article:

ED

Eula Deshotel

Dec 24, 2017

"All of them helped, I remember doing the salt and water and the baking soda as a child."

J

Jim

Mar 4, 2017

"This really worked, my my ulcers went away in no time. I recommend the lemon and honey."

MS

Mike Smith

Jan 18, 2017

"Swishing salt solutions in mouth 5-10 times a day really worked for pain and swelling."

EW

E. Web

Apr 5, 2016

"The ice one helped a lot. It was the easiest remedy to use, and it is very effective."

SR

Skylar Ramirez

Nov 9, 2016

"This helped a lot! I get ulcers all the time. Retainers are my weakness. Thank you!"

PP

Priya Patel

Apr 25, 2017

"I had this ulcers in my mouth for some time now and this website has helped me a lot."

Rated this article:

NM

Nilachala Mahapatra

May 21, 2017

"This gave easy and permanent healing of mouth ulcers, its causes and prevention."

UA

Uzair Ahmed

Oct 30, 2017

"It helped me with a painless pimple in my mouth on the right side of my cheek."

SM

Selena Morcheucho

Feb 23, 2017

"This is superb! I loved trying these remedies out, they helped a ton! Thanks."

BB

Britney Brown

Nov 16, 2016

"The salt water helped, and the honey. All of these are amazing for ulcers."

BG

Bob Geoffreys

May 29, 2017

"I never knew there were so many ways! The antibiotics helped me the most. "

Rated this article:

Selva Mohanbabu

Apr 30, 2017

"Got good information for curing my mouth ulcers, thanks for the service."

A

Anonymous

Dec 24, 2016

"I have been using salt in warm water quite a few times during the day."

A

Anonymous

Aug 7, 2016

"Putting salt on it to help numb it before doing some of the remedies."

MB

Michelle Berryhill

Oct 2, 2016

"The honey and lemon juice I did not know about. Thanks for the info."